This post aims to collate all relevant information about the all-new Huawei Mate 20 Pro 2018 flagship Android smartphone and its availability here in the Philippines.

Slated to be announced on October 16, 2018, this model will officially supersede the popular Huawei Mate 10 Pro from 2017 with its more powerful set of internal hardware, smarter and more versatile camera set-up, and a larger display at occupies most of its face.

Update as of October 26, 2018: Huawei Mate 20 Pro has just been officially announced in the Philippines. The suggested retail price of the 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM version in our country is PHP 49,990. Pre-order period will be from October 26 to November 2, 2018.

Based on all insider information that I've read and gathered so far, here are the key features of the upcoming Huawei Mate 20 Pro.

1. Notched Screen with In-Display Fingerprint Scanner - This handset sports a 6.39-inch FullHD+ OLED display with rounded corners, notch, and tall 19.5:9 Aspect Ratio. But what's unique about this screen is that it incorporates a fingerprint sensor, which is not present yet on competing flagship models.

2. Leica Triple Camera Set-up - Like the best-selling Huawei P20 Pro, the Mate 20 Pro will also have three cameras at the back. However, the latter has a wide-angle cam that's good for landscape shots or group photos. Also Mate 20's primary cam has what's called a 'Light Fusion' sensor that supposedly boosts its low-light performance, among others.

The Huawei Mate 20 Pro will still have a Telephoto Camera, which enables 3X lossless zoom capability and the new macro shot feature.

For Selfie-Lovers, there's a 24 MegaPixel front shooter with Huawei's own Beautification Effect that evens out the user's skintone in photos. This cam, which incorporates the phone's Facial Recognition security software, is housed within the screen's notch along with other sensors.

3. All-New Powerhouse Processor - Huawei Mate 20 Pro will run on the beastly HiSilicon 980 chipset, which is the first 7nm mobile SoC. This gives this phone stellar all-around performance - including heavy 3D gaming and running resource intensive apps - as well as great uptime or battery life. In fact, the 8GB RAM + 512GB ROM Version of the Mate 20 Pro currently leads all other smartphones in terms of Antutu Benchmark Test Score.

4. Smart as ever - Like other Huawei flagship models released earlier this year, the Mate 20 Pro will be powered by AI. This runs through many aspects of the phone but it is particularly evident in the handset's imaging performance. AI allows the cameras to recognize what's in front of the camera and to instantly adjust settings to deliver the best image possible. Also, AI boosts low-light shooting performance and even allows the device to capture long-exposure photos at night even without a tripod.

5. 40W SuperCharge Technology - Not only does Huawei Mate 20 Pro have a large 4,200 mAh Li-Po battery but this pack can also be fully charged coming from 0% within just 30 minutes using the provided charger and cable.

6. Sleek and rugged - Like Huawei P20 Pro, this new release flaunts a beautiful glass-metal-glass sandwich design language -- and what's amazing is that it is also IP68 Dust and Water Resistant, which means that it protected against accidental splashes of water.

7. Android 9.0 Pie - Huawei Mate 20 Pro will be one of the first smartphones to ship with the latest version of Google's mobile operating system. Android 9.0 Pie OS is the platform upon which this handset's EMUI 9.0 user interface stands.

8. Premium Price and Elegant Color Options - According to insiders, Huawei Mate 20 Pro will don an official suggested retail price starting at $1,000 USD in Huawei's key markets. This model will be available in three colors, namely, Blue, Black, and Twilight.

Alright! That's it for now. Stay tuned for more updates about this new high-end device. In the meantime, you might want to check out its list of complete technical specifications and features.